Symptoms of Heat Stroke in Dogs

Hi everyone!
I recently received a news letter from the clinic that I take Ellie to here in Pittsburgh, and I thought I would share it with you. I think it is important to know the signs of heat stroke in our dogs so that we re all aware. The whole country is experiencing such intense heat this summer, we need to protect our dogs the best we can.
I am posting the whole newsletter below

Symptoms of Heat Stroke in Dogs

When a dog's inner body temperature starts to climb, and the dog's body is unable to release the extra heat, a series of symptoms will begin; if left untreated, these symptoms will continue to progress until a heat stroke occurs.

Symptoms of Heat Stroke in Dogs

The initial symptoms of heat stroke in dogs are characterized by unanticipated restlessness. They include physical signs such as excessive or fluctuating panting, which may start, stop and then start again. Other physical signs are excessive drooling (hypersalivation), foaming at the mouth, dry tacky gums and labored or difficult breathing (dyspnea). Among common behavioral changes are agitation, whining, barking and other signs of anxiety. As the dog's core body temperature becomes dangerously elevated (called hyperthermia), the initial signs normally progress to include vomiting, diarrhea, confusion, lack of muscular coordination (ataxia), very red gums and uncontrolled tremors. In the end stages of heat stroke, a dog will become listless, dull, weak and recumbent. It may try to move to cool places but be unable to rise, will have increased difficulty breathing and ultimately will have seizures, collapse, lapse into a coma and die.

Very young and older dogs are at higher risk of heat stroke. Brachycephalic breeds, obese animals and long haired and dark-colored dogs are also predisposed. Dogs with hyperthyroidism, cardiopulmonary disease or thick hair coats are also at increased risk of developing heat stroke. If you notice these signs in your dog, take your dog to a veterinary clinic immediately.

Which Dogs are at Risk?

Dogs can be in danger from experiencing a heat stroke if they are acclimating to hot weather, confined in a hot space, or if they have worked or played too much without cooling down periods. Sadly this condition is commonly seen in dogs, especially in dogs that live in hot and humid climates. Dogs are able to pant to help control inner temperatures, but dogs are unable to sweat. In the case of a heat stroke, panting is not enough to cool the body down.

A heat stroke in dogs can develop into a potentially deadly situation in as little as 20 minutes. In this type of instance the dog is normally in a closed atmosphere, such as a car, where the temperature steadily climbs. In some instances a heat stroke can take hours to develop into a deadly situation. These cases usually involve dogs that are playing outdoors in the heat or dogs that are older or overweight and trying to acclimate to higher temperatures than they are used to.

To protect your dog from a heat stroke, take the time to learn the signs and symptoms of heat stroke in dogs. Always ensure that your dog has access to water and shade in hot temperatures, and never leave your dog in a hot car even if it is only for "a few minutes".

Do you wash your dogs face?

Hi everyone!
I just came accross an artical that says most of us don't wash our dogs face! We do the ears, brush the teeth, give them a bath and clip their nails but we forget the face.  I hope that most of you are doing this... if not...start! I guess most of us don't realize the hair on your dogs face is just like the hair on their body's...it gets dirty...and all that dirt can cause bacteria to build up, get into their eyes. Let's face it you wouldn't take a shower and Not wash your face right?

If you don't want to put water onto your dogs face, I get that, I know one of my dogs hates any water running down her face, then just use a wash cloth with a little shampoo and wipe the dogs face.

Make it a fun and personal bonding between you and your dog.

I just didn't realize that so many of us don't do this one essential thing and it gets looked over so much.

HAPPY FACE WASHING!!

License That Dog!

Since it the time of year that we are all outside with our dogs. In the parks walking, going to softball games and all the other things that we love to do with our dogs...I am included in that. As you all know Ellie is my sidekick and I take her everywhere with me. But as I walk through the parks and look at the dogs I see NO TAGS!!!

I see harnesses on dogs...OK but where is the collar? You know the one that goes around the dogs neck and says Hey!! I belong to someone! the one that says I am registered with the city, and most of all the big one that says I do have my rabies shots!!

I have heard so many excuses that owners have about why they don't want to put collars on the dogs. 

If your like me...I want to know that the dog has had its rabies shots! And is registered with the city.

As a responsible dog owner we need to follow a few simple laws, one of them is registration and tags on the dogs.

I live in Pittsburgh and dogs need to be registered. There is a fine for not registering the dog which is now pretty expensive if you get caught. The registration fee is not expensive $6.00 if the dog is spayed or neutered. You can save yourself so much grief for doing one simple thing.

What do you think about this issue? I would love your feedback.

Beating the Heat!

With most of the country in a massive heat wave...Ellie and I are hoping that you are beating the heat and staying cool.
Please make sure that your pets have plenty of water during the day. And remember as you take your dogs with you in the car... as I always take Ellie with me everywhere ....she is my little sidekick...remember in this heat if you leave the car to go into a store, the inside of the car can get to temperatures that can kill in just a matter minutes. 

BE SAFE, BE SMART AND BE WISE.

Let us know how you and your best friend are keeping cool in the heat!

The Ball Craze!

This is one of the best inventions I think by far!!!

The Chuckit Ball Launcher!

I love this product. I have had mine for 2 years now. It is one of the best things I have ever purchased.

It started out that I could not throw the ball very far since I throw like a girl! My Ellie a Border Collie mix who loves to play ball was growing up and has all kinds of energy… and me throwing to her was…well…bad. So I saw this goofy looking thing at the store and figured OK lets give it a shot!

Not only can I Chuckit all the way up the yard (I have a big yard) but Ellie really needs to run to get it…it does not take much effort to do.

The best part is you don’t have to touch a wet slimy ball!

If you have a dog that loves to play ball you gotta check out this product. There are even ones for little dogs. And they have many different types of balls for it. We love the Max Glow Ball it glows in the Dark one so we can play at night!

We have this posted as one of our Favorite things.
Let us know if you have a chuckit...tell us how much you love it!

Take Your Dog to Work Day

Hi Everyone!!
Don't forget next Friday, June 22, 2012 is "Take your Dog to work Day!" Let all your bosses know your bringing in the pooch!

Take your dog to work day was created to celebrate the great companions dogs make and to encourage their adoption from humane societies, animal shelters and breed rescue clubs.

For more information click on the link below:
 www.takeyourdog.com/

Let me know how many of you take your dog to work.

The Importance of Puppy Training

Training your dog is an important responsibility that a dog owner will have. Not only for the owner’s welfare or the welfare of everyone that is around him, but for the dog itself. Being a responsible owner is not only making sure he has food and water, or medical attention.

A well trained dog can be a great addition to any household but let’s face it; an untrained dog that goes to the bathroom in the house, or pulls your dinner off the counter, or jumps on the dining room table and eats all your food or chasing after a car going down the street, or bites someone is not doing Fido any good. 

As a good owner you need to teach your dog what you expect of him. There are many different methods to train your dog. What ever way you choose, stay with it and follow through.

Let’s stick with some basic principles.

• Be Consistent:

It is important for you to be consistent with your dog’s routine. This will be one of main rules that help you with housetraining.

When your dog has a specific time for eating, sleeping, and playtime, he will more likely succeed in housetraining.

·       Keep an Eating Schedule:

Regular eating schedule will give your puppy a predictable appetite, which will help to regulate his digestive processes.

Obviously, the more food and water you give your puppy, the more he will need to eliminate.

Be sure to follow the instructions regarding how much to feed your puppy at which ages and weight level.

Also only leave your dog food down at meal times for about 20 minutes. Leaving food down throughout the day makes potty training much more difficult to master as it upsets your dog’s toileting regime.

After your puppy eats, there will be a very short amount of time before he needs to eliminate. To be safe, take him outside 15 to 20 minutes after he eats.

Be sure to give your puppy plenty of water throughout the day, especially around mealtime because this is critical for carrying waste material from his body.

·       Keep a Sleeping Schedule:

Consistency in your puppy’s sleeping patterns is also important. Crate training really comes in handy here. A puppy likes to keep his “den” clean, so he will be less likely to eliminate in his crate as long as it is not too big.

You can predict that a puppy will almost always need to eliminate when he wakes up in the morning or after naps. He should be given an opportunity to eliminate before retiring to the crate for a nap or for the night.

·       Play:

When a puppy is engaged in playtime, chances are he will need to eliminate during or afterwards. Keep your play sessions short and make sure you give him plenty of time to eliminate before coming back into the house.

·       Command Phrase:

Think of a command phrase that you will say every time you want your dog to go outside. It could be “Do you want to go outside” or “Do you want to go potty?” You will use this same phrase every time you take him outside. Be consistent, don’t say “do you want to go outside” in the morning and then say “Do you want to go potty” later.  Your dog needs to learn what you are saying to him.

Again, be consistent and educate the whole family on the methods you choose to train your new puppy.  Changing methods between family members will confuse you dog.

Do your research and have fun. With a little work you can enjoy a lifetime of happiness with your dog.